Animal Migration

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Open Access

Abstract

Long-distance migration can be seen throughout
the animal kingdom and can have large impacts on
population dynamics and species distributions. The act
of migration itself also affects the evolution of a species,
as evolutionary forces select for certain characteristics in
animals conducting long-distance migration. Monarch
butterflies are best known for their annual migration from
Canada and the northern United States to central Mexico,
but some populations of monarchs have lost the ability to
migrate. Previous research found that migratory monarchs
had larger, more elongated wings than their non-migratory
counterparts and it was hypothesized that these traits were
beneficial for migration. However, Bergmann’s rule - which
predicts larger body sizes with increasing latitude - could
also explain this pattern as migratory populations are
found at higher latitudes. To understand the role of wing
dimensions in migration, we examined forewing size and
shape of migratory and non-migratory monarchs from
seven worldwide populations varying in latitude. Results
showed that larger forewing size was indeed correlated
with migratory status rather than latitude. However,
migratory monarchs did not have more elongated forewing
shape than non-migratory monarchs across the globe. Our
study indicates that size may play a larger role than shape
in long-distance migratory capability.

[15] Urquhart F.A., and Urquhart N.R., Autumnal migration routes
of the eastern population of the monarch butterfly (Danaus p.
plexippus L.; Danaidae; Lepidoptera) in North America to the
overwintering site in the Neovolcanic Plateau of Mexico, Can. J.
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